Salsa Student
Son Montuno
What, the oldsters aren't allowed?
This week in my dancing I'm working on...
- Thread starter azzey
- Start date
azzey
Son Montuno
Heh. You're already aware of the thread.
Desafinado
Son
Body movement connected to well articulated footwork.
Sabrosura
Son Montuno
Aren't we all working on that
That's like the perpetual salsa holy grail, lifelong work 
azzey
Son Montuno
Aren't we all working on that
What about people doing drunken salsa style? ; Random body movement disconnected from inarticulate footwork. Don't assume everyone has the same goals.
Salsa Student
Son Montuno
I'm assuming you're using "drunk salsa" purely as a style designator here.What about people doing drunken salsa style? ; Random body movement disconnected from inarticulate footwork. Don't assume everyone has the same goals.
azzey
Son Montuno
Desafinado
Son
I guess I only realized recently that that's the salsa holy grail.Aren't we all working on that
AnonymousSalsaDancer
Changui
This week in my dancing I'm working on...
Making sure I survive the coming period. The first six of my weekly classes started last week. This week one more will start, and next week the other two are starting. And there is a new Cuban teacher in town, so I might take a course there, too.
But I've noticed that the whole 'three hours of classes, followed by three to six hours of social dancing' is kind of taxing. So now I'm reconsidering how I eat, what I bring to parties, how to make sure I keep hydrated etc.
Maybe I simply shouldn't be trying to speed up my improvement in such a forceful way. But I prefer going all-in when I love something.
Making sure I survive the coming period. The first six of my weekly classes started last week. This week one more will start, and next week the other two are starting. And there is a new Cuban teacher in town, so I might take a course there, too.
But I've noticed that the whole 'three hours of classes, followed by three to six hours of social dancing' is kind of taxing. So now I'm reconsidering how I eat, what I bring to parties, how to make sure I keep hydrated etc.
Maybe I simply shouldn't be trying to speed up my improvement in such a forceful way. But I prefer going all-in when I love something.
azzey
Son Montuno
At the end of the first week, try to recall what you have learned during the week.
At the end of the 2nd week try to recall what you learned during the week AND in the first week.
To see if you are actually retaining anything.
Taking lots of classes may be good for muscle memory practice (at one-day rep per movement it's questionable, however lets assume the classes build from week to week) but breakthroughs often come by having time to reflect on what you're learning and putting it into practice.
AnonymousSalsaDancer
Changui
That's actually pretty great advice, thanks!
The classes that started last week are actually two identical sets of three courses (in three levels), so I do get some extra repetition for those. And one of those three is a beginner's course that I'm helping out in because there are too many follows. But I do like doing the basics again, because it allows me to focus on getting a good foundation. And it does add to the physical strain. The highest level of those three is actually slightly above my level, but I'm managing so far. The in-between one is a total breeze so far, though, so having a bit of a challenge doesn't hurt
Fortunately, all of the classes I'm taking are the kind of courses that build from week to week. If they were drop-in classes that don't repeat, I probably wouldn't be able to manage.
But as you mentioned, I do indeed notice that I hardly every manage to actually pull a new move off until I've had some time to go through it in my head and understand the mechanics. I do attend two to three socials/parties every week though, so I do get to practice the new stuff enough
The classes that started last week are actually two identical sets of three courses (in three levels), so I do get some extra repetition for those. And one of those three is a beginner's course that I'm helping out in because there are too many follows. But I do like doing the basics again, because it allows me to focus on getting a good foundation. And it does add to the physical strain. The highest level of those three is actually slightly above my level, but I'm managing so far. The in-between one is a total breeze so far, though, so having a bit of a challenge doesn't hurt
Fortunately, all of the classes I'm taking are the kind of courses that build from week to week. If they were drop-in classes that don't repeat, I probably wouldn't be able to manage.
But as you mentioned, I do indeed notice that I hardly every manage to actually pull a new move off until I've had some time to go through it in my head and understand the mechanics. I do attend two to three socials/parties every week though, so I do get to practice the new stuff enough
AnonymousSalsaDancer
Changui
By now most of my weekly classes have started, and I'm actually retaining all of what I'm learning, so that's great
Okay, so I did accidentally do some kizomba during my Argentine tango lesson, but that was just once... It's a beginner's course, and the very first exercise was simply walking left-front, right-close, left-back, right-close. And I did left-front, right-close, right-back, left-close. So that's not too bad I think.
A cool thing about taking classes with a few different teachers is that I can link their moves together. This week I learned a nice and flowy way to get into a front check from one teacher, and a fun way to get out of it from another, for example
This week I'm working on staying smaller and closer together. I've noticed my dancing has become bigger, especially when I'm doing stuff that's a bit harder. And the harder stuff actually gets way harder if you have to walk a lot while doing it. And on a related note, I'm trying to be a bit faster in leading. It's not so much that I lead late, but I sometimes lead a bit slowly. I don't want to turn the salsa flow into latin snappiness, but right now it sometimes just doesn't feel entirely right, and it adds up when I link multiple moves, so sometimes I miss a lead because the previous one was a bit too slow and I'm not quite ready to lead the next move. Doesn't happen that much, but I don't want it to happen at all
Oh, and I WANT to work on flow, but I guess I should get those other points down first. I'm noticing how I'm starting to slightly dislike the 'Prepare for move on 1...2...3..., execute move on 5...6...7..., prepare again' thing. I learned a few moves that flow nicely through two eight-counts, and I want more of that
Okay, so I did accidentally do some kizomba during my Argentine tango lesson, but that was just once... It's a beginner's course, and the very first exercise was simply walking left-front, right-close, left-back, right-close. And I did left-front, right-close, right-back, left-close. So that's not too bad I think.
A cool thing about taking classes with a few different teachers is that I can link their moves together. This week I learned a nice and flowy way to get into a front check from one teacher, and a fun way to get out of it from another, for example
This week I'm working on staying smaller and closer together. I've noticed my dancing has become bigger, especially when I'm doing stuff that's a bit harder. And the harder stuff actually gets way harder if you have to walk a lot while doing it. And on a related note, I'm trying to be a bit faster in leading. It's not so much that I lead late, but I sometimes lead a bit slowly. I don't want to turn the salsa flow into latin snappiness, but right now it sometimes just doesn't feel entirely right, and it adds up when I link multiple moves, so sometimes I miss a lead because the previous one was a bit too slow and I'm not quite ready to lead the next move. Doesn't happen that much, but I don't want it to happen at all
Oh, and I WANT to work on flow, but I guess I should get those other points down first. I'm noticing how I'm starting to slightly dislike the 'Prepare for move on 1...2...3..., execute move on 5...6...7..., prepare again' thing. I learned a few moves that flow nicely through two eight-counts, and I want more of that
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Slowdance
Son
I need to work on my copa type moves. In particular I struggle with the ones where I have both of my partner's hands (straight-on or pretzel-crossed) and I do an open break to get my partner to 180 into my chest/shoulder area in something resembling a sweetheart/trap.
Basically if I use either hand to stop the lady so she settles her weight to her right leg by 3, then I do well, whether I have my hand on her back or whether I only have connection to her arm ( the copa you can do when bring the lady out of a hammerlock).
But when I have to use my body / chest / shoulder to settle her by 3, I am always late, or else I flat-out fail the lead. I guess I am just nervous about abrupt full contact. Especially at "real dancing speeds".
So yeah I plan to work on that. I also plan to keep working on small steps and a clear lead.
I also finally finished turning my sunroom into a dance room, and so I really need to start working on shines and body movement. *sigh*
Basically if I use either hand to stop the lady so she settles her weight to her right leg by 3, then I do well, whether I have my hand on her back or whether I only have connection to her arm ( the copa you can do when bring the lady out of a hammerlock).
But when I have to use my body / chest / shoulder to settle her by 3, I am always late, or else I flat-out fail the lead. I guess I am just nervous about abrupt full contact. Especially at "real dancing speeds".
So yeah I plan to work on that. I also plan to keep working on small steps and a clear lead.
I also finally finished turning my sunroom into a dance room, and so I really need to start working on shines and body movement. *sigh*
GroovyMambo
Changui
Try setting up the copa with a mirrored open break, rather than a squared open break. A mirrored open break will allow you to align the follower parallel to your body early in the move, thereby reducing the chances that she'll over rotate. This is in contrast to initiating the copa with a square open break, where you would then have to change your orientation and the follower's direction mid-move prior to settling on 3 (if dancing On1). For added stability, you can check her on her right hip with your right hand. This move shouldn't be abrupt... BTW, the dance room sounds awesome!
salsamarty
Son
Took a private lesson with Magna Gopal last Saturday. Per her advice, I'm working on engaging my core muscles more to get some more control over my upper body movement. It's something I can think about and feel. I just need to start being more body aware until it becomes second nature.
I started doing this with some of my gym exercises that require balance. I could see an immediate improvement so I can see the value of it in my dancing.
I started doing this with some of my gym exercises that require balance. I could see an immediate improvement so I can see the value of it in my dancing.
azzey
Son Montuno
Curious, how much does she charge? PM me if you don't feel comfortable discussing on the forum. I'm sure you got a lot more than that from the private anyway.
IMO most stuff doesn't need a superstar to diagnose. Not saying I wouldn't take a private with her if I had the opportunity.
azzey
Son Montuno
Can you post a video example where someone leads a copa with their body/chest/shoulder? because I can't think of one. Maybe you mean a combination of body lead and arm/hand lead. Think about your basic steps ; do you ever settle your weight by 3?
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salsamarty
Son
I got a lot out of her workshops this past weekend too. Really . . . it is taking the ideas we discuss here on SF and seeing it embodied physically in one person. I wish the followers I dance with would be as interested in musicality as the people I read on Salsa Forums. I wish was that her presence and message and style of teaching would influence people in my dance community to see salsa the way we see salsa.